(JUNEAU, Alaska) —Southeast Alaskans will have new coordination and collaboration tools for transportation planning and prioritization with the formal designation of the Southeast Regional Planning Organization (SE-RPO) in partnership with Alaska Department of Transportation & Public Facilities (DOT&PF).

The formal designation of the SE-RPO took place at signing ceremony this week at the Southeast Council Mid-Session Summit in Juneau. SE-RPO is Alaska’s fourth RPO and the first designated in 2026. The program is designed to strengthen coordination, identify transportation priorities, and ensure that local and regional perspectives are incorporated into DOT&PF’s capital project development and decision-making processes.

RPO's are one of several transportation planning structures used nationwide, alongside Metropolitan Planning Organizations (MPOs) and Regional Transportation Planning Organizations (RTPOs). RPOs are especially valuable in rural regions, as they allow communities to build capacity and participate meaningfully in transportation planning and funding decisions while maintaining flexibility.

The SE-RPO will serve Alaska's Southeast area, encompassing the panhandle from Yakutat in the north to Metlakatla in the south. Planning activities under the agreement will address transportation needs, opportunities, and challenges specific to Southeast Alaska’s geography, communities, and multimodal transportation system.

The establishment of the Southeast Regional Planning Organization marks a significant step toward improved collaboration, more effective planning, and better transportation outcomes for Southeast Alaska residents.

# # #

The Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities oversees 237 airports, 9 ferries serving 35 communities along 3,500 marine miles, over 5,600 miles of highway and 839 public facilities throughout the state of Alaska. The mission of the department is to “Keep Alaska Moving.”